Just got a free optiplex 740enhanced

[Ebolite Saint]

I got this optiplex for literally free. (renters left it when they moved out)

I’m planing on upgrading this into a gaming rig for cheap but there are some existing problems that have me a little concerned but I think hardware changes should fix them

first thing I did was throw a copy of Ubuntu on it since I wanted to check out steams advances in Linux gaming.

Thats when the first problem hit me. After installing it makes me log on 4-5 times before the desktop will load (it just kicks me back to the login screen a couple times ) once I am able to get logged in the desktop background is distorted (pic attached) and most times the mouse cursor is invisible. The computer is running off of an older cpu with integrated graphics so I’m hoping that replacing the cpu will solve this problem.

 

on the subject of upgrading this pc I’m torn on wether I should go with a mid range graphics card and cpu or if I should just cram a high end cpu with integrated graphics into the machine and save for a graphics card later since my budget is a little tight and it looks like the cost would be about the same. 

 

I would love love to get some advice on either of these issues.

[TheGlenlivet]

Looks like this is an old Athlon win XP machine from what I see via google.  It might be ok for a retro machine if you can get the issues fixed with the display output.  Also the most it has is a 300W PSU, so keep that in mind if you upgrade the GPU later.

 

[Guest]

I don't think that it's a GPU issue, I had similar issues when RAM was failing/ was not seated properly. Also, you won't really be able to game on it. It is an old platform that you won't really run games newer than 2008-2009 on. 

[I-r0k]

Just sell it.

[Guest]

On 9/13/2018 at 3:36 PM, I-r0k said:

Just sell it.

Prolly not worth anything.